Tom Izzo Shoots Down NBA Speculation

Tom Izzo’s name always seems to come up during NBA coaching searches, and like usual, the Michigan State head coach squashed this year’s round of rumors that have him making the jump from college to the pros.

Izzo, in an appearance on ESPNU’s College Basketball podcast, called this year’s round of rumors that have him a candidate for the Minnesota Timberwolves and Detroit Pistons vacancies a compliment, but reaffirmed his commitment to the Spartans.

“First of all, I’m going to be at Michigan State,” Izzo said Wednesday on ESPNU’s College Basketball podcast. “I still listen to things every day in our town about Nick Saban saying I’m not going to be the Alabama coach [when Saban was coach of the Miami Dolphins].

“Nobody knows where any of us are going to be. You have to look at your track record and, over all these years, is this what he’s done?”

“Put it this way: I’ve got a big-time recruit coming in an hour and if I was leaving I wouldn’t be recruiting.”

Izzo’s tenure in East Lansing has been wildly successful, winning two National Titles and reaching six Final Fours since he became the team’s head coach in 1995.